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| Trisha
is our third Fitness Grant Recipient. |
 My
name is Trisha and I am 30 years old. I
have been on dialysis for almost 4 years now.
I live in Albuquerque, New Mexico with my husband,
Adam, and our daughter, Catie. We have three dogs,
Samantha, Sara, and Farley - we also have a fish
named Sam.
Let me start by saying that I had no idea I was
even the slightest bit ill until I went for my
yearly checkup in July of 2001. It took two months
for me to finally be able to see a kidney doctor
and by that time I was starting to gain weight,
which I later found out was almost all fluid gain.
I will never forget the day everything happened
- it was, ironically, September 11, 2001. I went
for an ultra sound of my kidneys. The very next
day I was in the hospital for a biopsy.
I found out that I didn't have Lupis like doctors
thought but I only had about 10% kidney function.
All-in-all, not the best news, but it could have
been worse. Naturally I was given all of my options
and I originally decided to do home dialysis through
a PD catheter but because of complications I was
forced to start hemo dialysis. That was almost
4 years ago and I feel that, except for an adjustment
period, my family and I have come to regard dialysis
as just another part of the schedule. I have applied
for the fitness grant because even though I don't
feel like dialysis has slowed me down too much,
I have noticed that I do have a harder time keeping
up with my daughter than I used to. Also, I have
noticed that I have lost quite a bit of the muscle
that I used to have. I also think that just because
I have kidney failure there is no reason to let
it define me - kidney failure is what I have,
not who I am.
|
| An
update from Trisha |
I thought I would take
a few minutes to write you and give an update on
everything that is going on here. Let me see, I
have been going to the gym for about two months
now, and I have become one of those people that
I used to make fun of for always going to the gym.
I'm not sure when it happened, but now I LOVE to
go and work out, crazy but true. A couple of weeks
ago I decided to take part in the upcoming marathon
for the New Mexico Cancer Society in October. I
am really looking forward to participating. I know
that my doctors are excited for me. Also because
of the fitness grant I am able to work out with
a personal trainer, her name is Kay Garza and she
is wonderful. I couldn't have done any of this with
out her, so I want to send a big THANK YOU out to
you Shad.
A couple of weeks ago I decided to go back to work.
I got a job as a server in an up-scale restaurant,
and I have to say I feel great. I think that it
is a combination of getting back into shape and
deciding that I still have something to contribute.
I now have an extremely packed schedule, it is taking
some juggling, but I have the support of my family
and friends and I would be lost with out them.
I think that about does it for now, so I will keep
you posted on my progress and I will send some pictures
from the marathon. Thanks again for everything.
Trisha
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| update
from Trisha - Nov 05 |
Hey Shad
I thought I should write and let you know how the
marathon went. I
know that the marathon was about a month ago, but
I have been a busy gal. I
wound up having to do the 5K walk because my hemoglobin
was really low and I
had no energy(and anyone on dialysis nows how much
that SUCKS!!!). I was so
excited to even finish that it didn't matter, I
had a great time. I got my
standings the next week. Out of 300 I finished 130
out of the women and 180
overall, not to bad for a first timer, but I fully
intend to finish a lot
higher next year.
I am still working and the owners are talking about
putting me into
managment, how awsome is that!!!. It is safe to
say that I work all the
time. I really like the fact that even though I
am sick (so to
speak)someone gave me a chance and I think it has
worked out really
wonderful.
As far as the gym ,I LOVE TO WORK OUT, I never miss.
I have even begun
to see the pay off for all of the work I have been
doing, I think everyone
should go to the gym, but that's just me.
Well that's all for now, I will send a picture from
the marathon as soon
as I remember to get them developed(ha! ha!). More
later, take care
Trisha |
| Victoria's
Story |
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Coming Soon!
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